South Hills Village undergoing renovation

A rendering of what an entrance of South Hills Village will look like.

Photo by Deana Carpenter

Local elected officials, mall representatives and construction representatives sign a rendering of the new renovations at South Hills Village Mall.

Photo by Deana Carpenter

Linda Accettulla, manager of South Hills Village Mall, announces the upcoming renovations.

Photo by Deana Carpenter

South Hills Village Kidgits Club Members Addie Lonergan, 7 and Nora Hoyle, 8, color pictures of what they think the mall should look like.

The 50-year-old South Hills Village Mall will be undergoing renovations beginning this month, representatives from the mall announced April 22. In addition, several new stores will be opening at the mall this year, including Forever 21, Ulta, Lane Bryant and Soma Intimates.

Other new stores will be announced as soon as agreements are finalized. Other stores, including Kay Jewelers, Dairy Queen and Johnston-Murphy are either relocating or renovating.

“It’s going to be a magical transformation,” said Jennifer Carroll, marketing director for Simon Property Group, which owns South Hills Village.

On hand at the announcement were local elected officials including Robert Orchowski, president of the Upper St. Clair Township Board of Commissioners and Mayor Jack Allen of Bethel Park. The mall is located within the borders of both municipalities.

Children from the mall’s Kidgits Club were also there coloring pictures and building Lego models of the mall.

The renovations are being done by architects Law-Kingdon and construction firm The Law Company, both based out of Wichita, Kan.

“We think our shoppers will love the results,” said Linda Accettulla, manager of South Hills Village.

The food court will see the most dramatic changes, Accettulla said. Five of the mall’s six entrances will also be updated, along with the mall’s common areas.

New tile flooring will be installed in the food court area, which will feature a new floor plan. New colors and banquette-style and café-style seating will be added as well as soft-seating areas and decorative columns with wood and porcelain tile finish. Charging stations will also be available at some of the tables in the food court. The men’s, women’s and family restrooms in the food court will also be renovated.

The redesigned entrances will include automatic doors, new facades, lighting and signage. The stairs in the Macy’s and Target/Dicks Sporting Goods areas will be replaced with new escalators.

“We are so positive about this renovation,” Accettulla said. She also added shoppers will not be impacted by the renovations.

“Most of the work will be done at night. Customers will see evidence, but not be inconvenienced,” Accettulla said.

The work will begin “very soon,” she said, adding the renovations are set to be completed before the start of the holiday shopping season.

“The Village, over 50 years, has not only grown – it’s evolved and flourished,” Orchowski said. “This place is an absolute economic engine.”

The mall employs more than 1,000 people.

“For the residents of Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair this is ‘The Mall,’” Allen said. “We are happy. There are a lot of things going on in Bethel Park and this is another one to add to the list.”

“Our customers are the highest priority,” Carroll said. “We are all so excited.”